Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Risk Factors
- Separation or divorce, widowhood
- Prior suicidal thoughts
- Terminal illness or chronic pain
- Parental history of:
- Violence
- Addiction (drugs or alcohol)
- Hospitalization for major psychiatric disorder
- Divorce
- History of:
- Suicide or suicidal behavior in family
- Trauma or abuse (physical or sexual)
- Psychiatric hospitalization
- Violent behaviors
- Impulsive/reckless behaviors
- Self-harm behavior
- Suicide attempts (especially if repeated)
Warning Signs
- Appearing depressed or sad most of the time – untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide
- Talking or writing about death or suicide
- Withdrawing/isolating from family and friends
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
- Feeling strong anger or rage
- Feeling trapped – like there is no way out of a situation
- Experiencing dramatic mood changes
- Using drugs or alcohol
- Acting impulsively or recklessly
- Losing interest in most activities
- Experiencing a change in eating or sleeping habits
- Performing poorly at work or in school
- Giving away prized possessions
- Writing a will
- Feeling excessive guilt or shame
- Feeling self-loathing or self-hatred
- Making unexpected/unusual goodbyes
Telephone and Other Resources
Alliance Behavioral Health Crisis Line: 877-223-4617
Connect with behavioral health and IDD services and crisis help. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and always answered by a qualified professional or clinician.
Other resources available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988 (resources for the deaf and hard of hearing)
National Crisis Text Line: text “HOME” to 741741
IMAlive Online Crisis Chat: imalive.org
Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255, press 1 or text 838255
The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 or thetrevorproject.org/help
LGBTQ youth suicide hotline
Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 or translifeline.org
Transgender crisis hotline
Additional resources:
Suicide Prevention and Statistics: 202-237-2280 or suicidology.org
Promise Resource Network: 704-390-7709 or promiseresourcenetwork.com
Reporting Suicidal Content Threats on Facebook: facebook.com/help/contact/305410456169423
School-based Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention program: http://hopesquad.com/hope-squads
